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Viewer Variables, also known as Dynamic Filtering, allow you to create smart and efficient digital signage content. Instead of designing multiple presentations for different viewers, you can use Viewer Variables to automatically adapt content based on predefined values.

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Meeting room example

Imagine managing 50 meeting room door signs in your digital signage network. Each sign displays a unique room number. Traditionally, you would need 50 separate presentations. With Viewer Variables, you design one presentation and PADS4 dynamically inserts the correct room number for each display.

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Creating a viewer variable

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Steps:

  1. Open PADS4 CTRL Center.
  2. Go to the Viewers menu category.
  3. Select Variables from the section that opens.
  4. Create a new Viewer Variable:
    • Enter a name, for example, MeetingRoomName.
    • Click Create to add the variable.
  5. Now, each Viewer can have its own unique value for MeetingRoomName.

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Designing a presentation with viewer variables

  1. Create a text field in PADS4 Designer.
  2. Insert the Viewer Variable as #MeetingRoomName#.
  3. Schedule the presentation to your Viewers.
Each Viewer will display its assigned Meeting Room Name without needing separate presentations.

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Dynamic content adaptation

Viewer Variables are not limited to room numbers. You can use them for:
  • Location-based data
  • Directional signs
  • IP addresses
  • Opening hours
  • Personalized messages

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Example: SQL integration

If you are fetching data from a database, you can insert Viewer Variables into SQL queries:
This ensures that the query dynamically filters data based on the Viewer Variable.

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Where you can use viewer variables

  • Text fields in presentations
  • SQL queries in data providers
  • Playlist items for dynamic content rotation
You cannot use Viewer Variables in password fields.

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How viewer variables work

PADS4 automatically scans all text for Viewer Variables (formatted as #VariableName#) and replaces them with the assigned values. If a meeting room name changes, update the value in Viewer Variables. You don’t need to modify the presentation.

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Conclusion

Viewer Variables simplify content management by allowing dynamic customization across multiple Viewers. This ensures a scalable, efficient, and flexible digital signage system with minimal manual updates.